CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Our Majors programs (BA or BSc)
offer substantial flexibility in Math course selection
as well as plenty of elective room. Careers in finance,
software development, actuarial science, high-school
education, and many other areas are possible with these
degrees.

The Honours degree (BA or
BSc) leads to the same career options after graduation
but is also the usual route for students intending to
proceed to graduate school in Mathematics (to MSc and
PhD degrees). Graduate-level training is necessary for
some career paths. It is necessary to have a PhD degree
in order to obtain an academic position at a university,
for example. An Honours degree, with appropriate courses
in analysis, discrete mathematics, probability, and
statistics, is an appropriate route to graduate programs
in Commerce, especially Management Science (Operations
Research).

Currently, a Mathematics degree is one of the best
entry routes to BEd
programs. Students in a Major program intending to enter
the BEd program should
consider taking courses in geometry, number theory,
probability, statistics, and mathematics history, such
as MATH 302, 303, 308, 309, 312, 313, 342, 414, 446, and
STAT 200. There is a dual-degree program in Mathematics
and Education (BSc/BEd). Admission to this program
requires application in the fall of second year. The
Department of Mathematics runs outreach programs for BC
students in Grades 6-12 and welcomes participation from
Mathematics undergraduates interested in teaching as a
potential career.

The business world has employed many Mathematics
graduates, especially in the actuarial field,
investment, and banking. For such employment, it is
worthwhile to take courses in Statistics, in particular
STAT 200, 305, 306, and 404. Students interested in the
actuarial field should contact Dr. Joel Friedman in our
department. Note that one can take a Major in
Mathematics with a Minor in Commerce (BA or BSc degree) as well as a
Mathematics/Economics Major (BA or BSc
degree).

One area with employment opportunities is the software
industry - systems analysis, software engineering,
computer programming, and management information
systems. Mathematics students interested in this path
should consider taking Computer Science courses such as
CPSC 110, 210, 221, and 310.

For career information, students are encouraged to look
at Jobs Rated 2014 available at www.careercast.com,
which lists the following among the ten best American
jobs (out of 200): mathematician (#1!), statistician,
actuary, software engineer, and computer systems
analyst. See also the American Mathematical Society
website, www.ams.org/profession/career-info/career-index.
For all career choices, good communication skills in
both oral and written English are essential.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

BA PROGRAM
There is no Physics or Chemistry requirement for
students pursuing the BA program, but students need to
satisfy a Computing requirement. This can be fulfilled
by taking CPSC 110/210, or CPSC 110 and MATH 210. Arts
students must also satisfy Literature and Language
requirements. The BA program has other special
requirements, including a first-year writing course
and a fourth-year research-intensive course (fulfilled
by one of MATH 441, 444, 445, 448, or 462). There are
credit restrictions for a BA, limiting
the number of non-Arts courses. (Math courses count as
Science courses.) It is often possible to obtain
permission from the Arts Faculty for exceptions to the
Arts credit requirement.

Currently, about one-third of all
Mathematics Majors are registered in Arts. The Honours program in Arts
requires the completion of 120 specified credits with
an average of at least 68%. One may take a Mathematics
Minor (18 credits of courses in Mathematics numbered
300 or higher) along with another Arts Major. One
could also take a Major in Mathematics and a Minor in
another Arts or Science subject or Commerce. A Double
Major program is available in Arts. There is also a
special Mathematics/Economics Major. Entry into this
program is done by Economics.

BSc PROGRAM
Students intending to pursue an Honours
program are strongly urged to take MATH 120, 121, 223,
226, and 227. This eases the transition to the third
year of the Honours
program. The Honours
program in Science requires the completion of 132
credits. One may take a Mathematics Minor (18 credits
of courses in Mathematics numbered 300 or higher)
along with another Science Major. One could also take
a Major in Mathematics and a Minor in another Science
or Arts subject or Commerce. A Double Major program is
available in Science. There is also a special
Mathematics/Economics Major, and a Combined Major in
Computer Science and Mathematics.

BASc PROGRAM
(Minor in Honours
Mathematics)
In this Minor, one must take a number of advanced
mathematics courses, in addition to those required by
the program. By carefully picking electives and taking
some summer courses, it is possible to complete this
program within four years. It is advantageous to
obtain Advanced Placement credit (Calculus AB or BC)
or Challenge credit for MATH 100 and/or MATH 101 prior
to entering UBC.

If a student intends to pursue a degree program in
Mathematics, it is important to see a Mathematics
Advisor or the Undergraduate Chair. Contact
information is on our website (www.math.ubc.ca)
under the "Undergraduates" tab.

COMMENTS ON SOME SPECIFIC MATHEMATICS
COURSES

Detailed information (including prerequisites) for
all UBC Mathematics courses is available in the UBC
Calendar. Some additional comments are given below.

MATH 001 and MATH 002:

These are non-credit pre-calculus
courses offered by UBC
Continuing Studies for students who are
inadequately prepared to take MATH 180 or MATH
184, which have a prerequisite of at least 80%
in Pre-Calculus 12.

Prior to entering UBC, students who have
taken a high-school calculus course may write
the UBC-SFU-UVIC-UNBC Calculus Challenge Exam.
Students who obtain a grade of 4 or 5 in the
AP Calculus AB exam can obtain credit for MATH
100. A grade of 4 or 5 in the AP Calculus BC
exam leads to credit for MATH 100 and MATH
101.

MATH 100 (or 180 or 184)
and
MATH 101:

This is the first-year calculus stream
designed for Engineering and Physical Sciences
students who have taken a high-school calculus
course. Those without such a course should
take MATH 180 or MATH 184 in the first term.

MATH 102 (or 180 or 184)
and
MATH 103:

This is the first-year calculus stream
designed for Life Sciences students who have
taken a high-school calculus course. Those
without such a course should take MATH 180 or
MATH 184 in the first term.

MATH 104 (or 184 or 180)
and
MATH 105:

This is the first-year calculus stream
designed for Commerce and Social Sciences
students who have taken a high-school calculus
course. Those without such a course should
take MATH 184 or MATH 180 in the first term.

MATH 110:

This is a full-year
alternative to MATH 180 or MATH 184, for
students with insufficient high-school
preparation.

MATH 120
and
MATH 121:

These are 4-credit Honours
versions of the courses MATH 100 and 101, or
MATH 102 and 103, or MATH 104 and 105.
Prerequisite: a high-school calculus course
and a grade of 95% or better in Pre-Calculus
12. To register, contact the Undergraduate
Chair.

MATH 210:

This is a mathematical way to satisfy the
second half of the Computing requirement for a
degree.

MATH 217:

This accelerated course, which contains
material from MATH 200 and MATH 317, is
intended for students in Honours
Physics and Engineering Physics.

MATH 221:

This course is open to students who have
passed MATH 101 or 103 or 105 or 121, or
obtained at least 64% in MATH 100 (180) or 102
or 104 (184) or 120, or have advanced credit
for MATH 100.

MATH 230:

This is a 3-credit course useful for entry
into the BEd
Elementary Program. Prerequisite: Principles
of Mathematics 11.

MATH 302:

This course is equivalent to STAT 302.

MATH 305:

This new course in complex
variables is similar to MATH 300 but
contains a greater emphasis on applications.

MATH 308-312:

Note the prerequisite of MATH 220 or MATH 226
or CPSC 121.

MATH 318:

This is an accelerated course that contains
material from MATH 302 and MATH 303.

MATH 331:

This is an Honours
course in problem solving.

MATH 335:

This is a 4-credit course open to Arts and
unclassified students intending to enter the BEd Elementary Program
without previous credit for any other
Mathematics course.

MATH 342:

Note the prerequisite of MATH 220 or MATH 226
or CPSC 121.

COURSE SELECTION IN THE MAJORS PROGRAM

Major students sometimes wonder which third- and
fourth-year Mathematics courses to include in their
degree. In practice, typical choices come from the
following:

MATH 300

Introduction to Complex
Variables

MATH 302

Introduction to Probability

MATH 303

Introduction to Stochastic
Processes

MATH 307

Applied Linear Algebra

MATH 308

Euclidean Geometry

MATH 309

Topics in Geometry

MATH 310

Abstract Linear Algebra

MATH 312

Introduction to Number
Theory

MATH 313

Topics in Number Theory

MATH 316

Elementary Differential
Equations II

MATH 317

Calculus IV

MATH 340

Introduction to Linear
Programming

MATH 342

Algebra, Coding Theory, and
Cryptography

MATH 345

Applied Nonlinear Dynamics
and Chaos

MATH 360

Mathematical Modeling in
Science

MATH 361

Introduction to
Mathematical Biology

MATH 400

Applied Partial
Differential Equations

MATH 414

Mathematical Demonstrations

MATH 441

Mathematical Modeling:
Discrete Optimization Problems

MATH 442

Optimization in Graphs and
Networks

MATH 444

Mathematical Research and
Writing

MATH 445

Mathematical Modeling:
Applications in the Natural and Social
Sciences

MATH 446

Topics in the History of
Mathematics I

MATH 448

Directed Studies in
Mathematics

MATH 462

Projects in Mathematical
Biology

For reasons of breadth, it is a good idea to include
MATH 302, 307, 308, 312, and 340, and then to take
follow-up courses as interests dictate. Major students,
especially those considering graduate school in the
Mathematical Sciences, are also encouraged to take some
of the courses required in the Honours
program, such as MATH 300, 320, 321, and 322. Another
suggestion is to take some higher-level elective courses
in an area of application, such as Economics, Computer
Science, or Statistics.

COURSE SELECTION IN THE HONOURS PROGRAM

Students planning on an Honours
or Combined Honours degree
are advised to take the Honours
version of first- and second-year courses, specifically
MATH 120 (Honours
Differential Calculus), 121 (Honours
Integral Calculus), 223 (Linear Algebra), 226 (Advanced
Calculus I), and 227 (Advanced Calculus II). For each of
these courses, the syllabus in the regular and the Honours versions is similar
enough so that the regular course with a sufficiently
high grade will be accepted as a prerequisite for a
subsequent Honours course.
However, in general, the Honours
versions cover the material in greater depth, offer more
challenging problems, and anticipate concepts which are
important in upper-level courses. Note that an Honours student who takes MATH
200 or MATH 253 instead of MATH 226 must also take MATH
220 (Mathematical Proof).

The core third-year courses are MATH 300 (Introduction
to Complex Variables), 320 (Real Variables I), 321 (Real
Variables II), and 322 (Introduction to Algebra). Almost
all fourth-year courses have these courses as
prerequisites. A highly recommended course, MATH 331
(Problem Solving), may be profitably taken in second,
third or fourth year. The prerequisites are MATH 223
(152, 221) and MATH 226 (200). The remaining upper-level
courses are organized into the areas of analysis,
algebra, geometry and topology, applied mathematics, and
a course in graph theory. See the UBC Calendar for
detailed descriptions. Some higher-level courses are not
offered every year. Advanced students are encouraged to
take 500-level (introductory graduate) courses. Note
that the Math Honours
program (not Combined Honours)
allows some Math Major courses.

OTHER INFORMATION

Advising
All undergraduates are expected and strongly
encouraged to see their respective Undergraduate
Advisor at least once each academic year during the
first term, preferably before the end of October.
Check at the main Mathematics Office (Room 121 in the
Mathematics Building) or on our department's website
to obtain the current advisor for your year and
program. There are also Actuarial, Putnam, Co-op and
School Workshop Advisors, as well as an advisor for
students enrolled in programs other than Mathematics.

Appeal Procedures
A student who wishes to protest a mark in a midterm or
homework assignment should initially approach the
instructor concerned. Only if the problem cannot be
resolved in this fashion should the student approach
the Undergraduate Chair. Students must not, on their
own initiative, approach a second instructor.

After the final exam period, students can complete a
Viewing of a Final Examination form (available in the
Math Office or online) and then meet with their
instructor to discuss the exam. If a student then
wishes to have the final exam officially re-marked,
they must go to Enrolment Services to complete a
Review of Assigned Standing form and pay a fee, which
is only refunded if the exam mark is raised.

Computer Lab Facilities
The Mathematics Undergraduate Computer Lab is located
in Room 310 in the Leonard S. Klinck
(LSK) Building. Students can use any of the 42 Windows
workstations and a printer networked to the
Mathematics Unix servers. Users have access to various
installed software to do course work, such as
mathematical packages (Maple, Matlab,
R), browsers and information readers (Firefox, email
readers), editors and word processing (Open Office, TeX), and programming tools
(GCC compilers, Java toolkit).

In addition, Rooms 121 in LSK and 1042/1046 in the
Earth Sciences Building (ESB) are available to
Mathematics and Statistics undergraduates with lab
accounts. Room 121 in LSK consists of 70 CAIL
terminals which have Windows and Unix login with
access to the same servers as in the Mathematics
Undergraduate Computer Lab, as well as to additional
software from several Windows 2008 servers (Jumpin, Microsoft Office, Lindo and Lingo, Scientific
Notepad). Rooms 1042 and 1046 in ESB each have 20 Mac
workstations. Two printers are available, with a
strictly enforced quota of 35 pages per course. The
labs are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00
pm, provided they have not been reserved by an
instructor. All labs are closed on weekends and
holidays.

Co-operative Education Programs
Second- and third-year students can apply to pursue a
Co-operative Education Program in Mathematics which
involves work placements in addition to regular study.
For information concerning the Co-op Education Program
in Science, contact the Science Co-operative Education
Office, Room 170, Chemistry and Physics Building, 6221
University Boulevard (604-822-9677). For information
concerning the Co-op Education Program in Arts,
contact the Arts Co-operative Education Office, Room
C121, Buchanan Building, 1866 Main Mall
(604-822-1529).

Math Club (www.facebook.com/ubcmathclub)
All Mathematics undergraduates are strongly encouraged
to join the Math Club located in Mathematics Annex
1119. The Math Club plays the role of a social centre
for Mathematics students. It organizes lectures, study
sessions, mentoring, and social functions, and it has
a library, telephone, refrigerator, cheap food and
pop, etc. The membership fee is nominal. Just prior to
the December and April examination periods, the Math
Club sells copies of previous final exams and
solutions for most first- and second-year and some
third-year Math courses.

Mathematics Learning Centre (MLC) (www.math.ubc.ca/~MLC)The Math Learning Centre is a space for
undergraduate students to study Math together, with
support from Math Tutors who are graduate students in
the Math Department. It is located in Rooms 301 and
302 in the Leonard S. Klinck (LSK) Building, and is
open weekdays during the term and on a special
schedule during the exam period. For a detailed
description of the MLC, its schedule, announcements,
and all other MLC-related information, visit the new
website (noted above). There is no charge for the
services MLC provides.

Mathematics Library
All Mathematics undergraduates are strongly encouraged
to make full use of the Mathematics Library, located
in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (Level 4,
North Wing). The online resources of books and
journals are substantial.

Putnam Competition (www.math.ubc.ca/~gerg/index.shtml?putnam)
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the
prestigious undergraduate Putnam Mathematics
Competition. UBC has consistently ranked high in this
North American competition for many years. There are
special Lawrence Roberts Putnam Awards for UBC
students who finish in the top 200. Registration is
free and can be done on the department's Putnam
webpage. That page also contains answers to frequently
asked questions, as well as scheduling information for
practice sessions and contact information for further
questions.